Amandababble Week Twelve

Amandababble Week Eleven Amandababble Week Thirteen

Amandababble Week Twelve

We STILL have no Bermuda date! But we know it’ll be within next two weeks. I have a permanent knot of anxiety in my tummy, waiting… I dreamt that the Major shoved me awake in the night, shouting, ‘Go Go Go!!!’ and I had to jump out of bed and straight onto a plane with a minutes notice. I arrived in Bermuda in my nightie with nothing other than my bed socks and a box of washing powder, why the washing powder? It was a dream! How should I know? Jheesh.

I figure as I’m more of a last minute kind of gal, it’ll be fine to leave packing and organising until I have that magical date and I shall then run around like a headless chicken, shoving things into bags.

“I can see there are going to be contentious packing issues. We are taking one large suitcase each and that is all.”

I can see there are going to be contentious packing issues. We are taking one large suitcase each and that is all.

I asked the Major last night if I could take my Tupperware storage containers. He laughed, frowned and then said, ‘No!’

‘But… but I’ll need them for food storage and packed lunches!’

‘No! They’ll take up too much room and you can get some there. You only have one case. All you need is clothes and essentials.’

‘But I don’t want new ones! I want my old ones with happy memories in them…’

He then reached for the Gordon’s and poured himself a large one.

He shook his head, ‘you can’t take any old rubbish Mand and besides there are more important things that need to be done. We need to sew all the kids nametapes in for school!’ (He says we, he means me)

…I haven’t asked yet about my candle and tea light collection, my favourite mugs, sleepy cushion, photos of my nan and grandad, his old love letters, the kids first drawings or my peg bags, things that are important to me. Might need to get another bottle of gin in.

I have literally had my head in my laptop all week; so much so that my eyes have gone fuzzy and whilst I can usually read and see without my glasses (if I really squint!) there is now no chance! I need an eye break - she says, tip tapping her computer screen in her glasses.

I have a busy week on the horizon, I am on BBC Devon on Tuesday talking to Judy Spiers and then BBC Manchester on Friday talking to Becky Want – both top chicks so it should be really good fun!

The boys are away. No1 is on the Devon coast, trying to chat up girls and the other is in North Wales, messing about on the water. I’ve had no contact at all and am a bit antsy, wanting to know they are ok or in fact just wanting to hear their voices.

Last night a text pinged! It was No2 and I was delighted! Contact at last. I eagerly scrolled and opened the message, which read,

‘Hawaiian you dickhead.’

I read it once more looking for the hidden meaning when another text pinged in ‘Soz – that wasn’t meant for you!x’

I danced around the room – he’d sent a kiss! An actual kiss! Now I know this was probably done in error, but I’m claiming it.

This weeks ITV Short Story has received some lovely comments and feedback, thank you so very much to everyone who has read and liked it, for those of you that missed it, here we go; http://itv.co/1cGuA84 – happy reading.

I am on the home straight of my new novel A Little Love – I think it’s a goody. My next few books (still all part of No Greater Love Series) continue to focus on women who grab life and run with it. Pru is 66 and falls in love for the first time and her message is, ‘life starts when you let it!’ I really like her and I hope you will too.

I planned to have a big old lie in today until 8am – no kids, no alarm, no deadline… shame no one told the workmen digging up the road about my plans, they started at 7am – Hey ho! It’s a sign. A sign that I am not meant to rest, not until that darn book is finished and I have packed! I’m wondering if I can fill my Tupperware with candles, peg bags, mugs, letter etc and HIDE it in my luggage, yes! This is worth a shot. If the Major asks, tell him I’m sewing in nametapes…

Live. Laugh. Love.

Mandy x